Water softener



1936. v c. P. EISENHAUER 2,050,966

WATER -SOFTENER Y Filed Feb. 14, 1931 2 Shgets-Sheet 1 euro: 14 e1 4.

Aug. 11, 1936. cjP. EISENHAUER WATER SOFTENER Filed Feb. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 all Patented Aug. ii, W35

sesame WATER fiQF'EENEB m, uen, Dayton, 01min, assignor to The Euro ilompw, Dayton, Qhio, a corporation of @hio Application February 14; 1931, Serial No. 515,831; w

' 25 @laims. (cl. era-2 Charles P. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for treating water, more particularly treating hard waterto make it soft.

Apparatus for this purpose is well known and commonly includes a tank containing a bed of small grains of zeolites, and a reservoir containing brine and undissolved salt. Upon water passing through the bed of zeolites the lime and magnesia-the constitutents that make water hard 10 are absorbed by the zeolites, leaving the water soft. After the zeolites have become ineffective through use they can be regenerated by passing a salt solutionbrine-through the bed of zeolites,

after which water can again be softened by pass- 15 ing it through the bed. All of this is well known and understood in the art and need not be further explained here.

The tank is provided with an inlet for water from a source of supply, and an outlet for treated o (soft) water, and the apparatus includes mechanism for regenerating the softening material (zeolites) from time to time according to how much water is softened therein.

There are three principal types of water sof- 3 teners, namely, manually controlled, semi-automatic, and automatic. As each of these types is well known it is unnecessary to refer particularly to any but that to which the present apparatus belongs, which is the automatic. In the automatic 30 softener the water-that is softened is measured with some form of measuring or metering device and when a predetermined amount of water has passed through the meter the apparatus is autornatically changed from the condition in which water is softened to the condition in which the softening material is regenerated. After the process of regeneration is completed the bed of softening material is rinsed or flushed with fresh water to remove the brine. This change from 40 regenerating to rinsing the material is automatic, and when the rinsing is finished the apparatus is automatically restored to the condition for softening water, in which condition it remains until, after the said predetermined amount of water has passed through the 'meter, regeneration is again initiated.

As the apparatus is disabled for softening water during the time the softening material is being regenerated and flushed, it is desirable to com- 5 plete these operations as quickly as possible. One of the objects of my invention is to reduce by about one-half the time required in flushing the softening material, a saving in time of about twenty minutes. Another object is to provide for 55 utilizing practically the entire capacity of the reservoir for storage of salt. By my improvement i am enabled to store from 30% to 40% more salt in a reservoir-of a given size than can be stored in the reservoir of any other softener now on the market.

Another object of my invention is to avoid wasting brine when the supply of salt in the reservoir is replenished. In other water softeners about of the salt iswasted, while in mine none is wasted. Another object is to eliminate delicate 10 parts that are liable to be injured, even where reasonable care is used; for example, when the supply of salt is renewed.

- Another object of my invention is to enable a single brine reservoir to serve twb or more water softening tanks.-. This is an important feature in view of the rapidly growing use of water softeners in groups. .Where softeners are used in groups and provision is made for putting them through theirregeneration periods singly, there is no time when the building is without a supply of soft water. Obviously, it effects a considerable saving in first cost to install only one brine reservoir to serve a plurality of softeners, instead of having to put in a separate reservoir for each softener.

I shall now ,describe my invention in detail, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which, I

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of myapparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, seen from the left hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a side elevational view of a toggle mechanism whereby the meter operates the controlling valve;

' Fig. i is a front elevation of two such toggle mechanisms;

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views of certain valves, and

Fig. 7 illustrates a structural detail.

Figure 8 is a fragmental sectional detail of the core 25 of valve l9, taken on line 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tank Iii contains the water-softening material, the bed of zeolites, and the reservoir contains brine and undissolved salt. As the particular arrangement of the interior of these vessels, except as hereinafter referred to, forms no part of my invention no further description thereof is necessary at this time. Water to be softened enters the apparatus at 12 and soft water leaves the apparatus at I 3. Drain pipes l6 and G5 are connected to the sewer or some other place for the disposal of waste water. v

When the apparatus is in normal condition, that is in condition for softening water, water entering the pipe i6 flows through the meter H,

through the pipe It, a valve l3 and a pipe 23 to the lower part of the tank ID. The water then matically the course of water through it when l the apparatus is in condition for softeningwater. Pipe I8 is connected at 2| and pipe 20 is connected at 22, a port 23,. shown with dotted lines, connecting these pipes. A port 24, shown with dotted lines, is connected to the upper part of the interior of the tank and with the soft water outlet The drain pipe I4 is connected at 25.

The core of the valve is revoluble clockwise from the position it occupies in Fig. 5 to the position it occupies in Fig. 6, which latter is its position when the water-softening material is being regenerated and flushed. The core is moved counter-clockwise to the position it occupies in mechanism is common in the art it is not necessary to illustrate or describe it in detail. For example, means for operating such a valve is shown in Fig. 5 of Patent No. 1,634,409, July 5, 1927.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the passage 30' in the center of the core enters the upper part of the tank, and when the apparatus is in regenerating condition water from the meter enters the valve at 2| and flows through the port 3| to the passage 30. The passage 30 includes the Venturi tube of an injector, and suction created by the injector draws brine from the reservoir via a. pipe 32 in the reservoir, valve 33, and a pipe 34 connected to the valve I9 at 35. The brine from the reservoir, preferably a concentrated solution, mixes with the water passing through the Venturi tube 30' and enters the tank as a comparatively weak solution. This solution courses down through the bed of softening material to the bottom of the tank, where it enters the pipe 20. Entering the valve It at 22 the solution passes through the port 23, out at 26 to the waste pipe I4 and thence to the sewer. The valve 33 is closed by a spring and remains closed while the apparatus is in water-softening condition. It is opened by a flexible diaphragm forming one wall of a hydraulic chamber, which, together with the spring, are confined in a casing 35. As this valve is of a kind well known in the art it is not necessary to illustrate or describe it in detail. I shall now describe the mechanism for initiating'regeneration of the softening-material after a given amount of water has traversed the meter II.

A shaft 40 is geared to the meter- I! in such a ratio that the shaft revolves one revolution during a cycle of thewater-softening apparatus as whole. Mounted on this shaft are two .valve opening devices. As these devices are alike, save that they are right and left hand, respectively, 1

aosopee 43 in a line parallel to the axis of the disc. At its free end the arm 45 has a large hole which encircles a relatively small stationary stud, thereby limiting the movements ofthe arm, and therefore of the'lever as a whole. Intermediate its ends the arm 43 carries a roller 43. Mounted on a stationary stud. .43 is a lever 50, approximately,

horizontal in position. At one end an varm 5|, pivotally connected to the lever 50, extends upward past one side of the roller 48. The edge of the arm facing the roller is provided with two notches which convert the intervening portion of the arm's edge into a reclining v-shaped projection 52. A tension spring 53 constantly draws the arm 5| toward the roller 43, and causes the arm to cam the roller up or down according to whether the roller bears against the upper or lower incline of the V. For example, if with the parts in the position they occupy in Fig. 3 the arm 46 were raised until the center of the rollerwent slightly past the apex of the V, the upper incline of the V, urged to the left by the spring 53, would immediately cam the roller up, thereby snapping the arm up, toggle fashion, to the limit of its play. Moving the arm down far enough to bring the center of the roller slightly below the apex of the V would cause the arm to snap down. At its outer end the arm 42 has a diagonal slot 54, forming a cam 55. As the shaft revolves, clockwise, the cam 55 eventually engages the stud 56 and rocks the lever 46-41 clockwise, lifting the end of the arm and causing the toggle device to snap the arm 46 upward. Presently the cam 44 engages the stud 56, and rocking the bell crank counter-clockwise causes the arm 46 to be snapped downward.

Connected to the free end of the lever 50, by a slot-and-pin connection, is the vertical stem 50 of a controlling valve 6|, which valve is screwed into the pipe It. This valve has a chamber 52 that is connected by a pipe 63, and by pipes 64 and 55, respectively, to the hydraulic chambers of valves l 9 and 33. The valve has two seats; when its stem is in its lower position, as when, the apparatus is in condition for softening water, the valve member 65 is on the lower seat, 51, and the water is shut off. At such times the chamber 52 is in communication with a port-68 in the valve, into which port the drain pipe I5 is connected, thus allowing the water to escape from the hydraulic chambers of valves l9 and 33, so the springs of the valves can operate them. .When the stem is raised by the toggle to its upper position the valve member 66 rests on the upper seat, 53, thereby cutting the chamber 52 off from the drain and admitting water under pressure to the hydraulic chambers of the valves is and 33. Valve I9 is then moved to the position it occupies in Fig. 6 and valve 33 is opened.

A second toggle-operated valve, Ill, adjacent to the valve 6|, taps the pipe l8. The valve 10 is a duplicate of the valve GI, and is operated by a toggle mechanism like that already described.

For convenience in referring to these toggle mech- "anlsms hereinafter I shall refer to the one that operates valve 6! as mechanism A, and the one that operates valve 10 as mechanism B. I shall also use the same reference numerals in referring to the parts of valve 10 and mechanism B as have been used in referring to valve 5| and mechanism A.

Connected to the chamber 62 of valve 10 is a pipe II, which pipe is connected to a hydraulic chamber I2 belonging to a valve 13. This valve is screwed into the top of the tankv It. Like valve abscess it, the valve lt'is closed by a and opened by water acting on a flexible diphragm: that forms one wall of the hydraulic chamber 12;. The port '68 is connected to the drain pipe l5, so when the valve I0 is closed the hydraulic 1 I2 is bledby the drain and the spring is enabled to close valve l3. The disc el of toggle mechanism B is set on shaft all a little behind the disc M of mechanism A. By the time enough water has passed through the injector 80a to complete the regenerative operation, the cam 55 of togglemechanism B trips said mechanism and opens the passage 30 and Ventu'ri tube 30a, and the water enters the tank in such volumes as to build up a pressure therein sumcient to overcome the injector and force water through the brine pipe 3% into the reservoir, replacing liquid (brine) that has just been drawn therefrom. Water from valvelli flows down through the softening material and flushes or rinses the material, leaving the tank by way of pipe 29, and finding its way to the sewer via port 23 in valve is, and pipe it. For this reason I call the valve it the flushing valve.

The disc 33 of mechanism A is so set with reierence to the cam 55 of mechanism B that after water has filowed through valve 153a sufilclent time to thoroughly rinse the softening material the cam M of mechanism A trips said mechanism A and closes valve 8 i which at the same time connects the chamber 62 of the valve to the drain pipe |5.- This bleeds the hydraulic chambers of valves l9 and 33 and allows valves is and 33 to be operated by their respective springs; the former to move from the position it occupies in Fig. 6 to the position it occupies in Fig. 5, and the latter to close. The disc 53 of mechanism B is so positioned with reference to the disc 63 of mechanism A, that the cam 34 or B trips its toggle and closes the valve l3 immediately after the mechanism A is tripped. If desired both toggle mechanisms might be set to be tripped by their respective cams til simultaneously, but to avoid the possibility of B tripping ahead of A it is preferable to have A set to trip slightly ahead of B. The tripping of mechanism B by its cam 46 is the final step in restoring the apparatus to its normal condition. a

The volume of water returned to the reservoir ii is slightly less than the volume or the brine just drawn from-the reservoir. This is so that as the supply oi undissolved salt in the reservoir is gradually diminished the'level of the brine in the reservoir will be reduced in the same proportion. Then when it is necessary to replenish the supply of salt there is sufllcient room in the reservoir for the new supply. In water softeners wherein the brine is constantly maintained at the original level by a float-controlled valve, regardless of the amount of salt the reservoir contains, the brine is caused to overflow when a new supply of salt is put in the reservoir, and in this way about 10% of the salt put in the reservoir is wasted. In my apparatus the amount of water returned to the reservoir after each regeneration is sufliciently restricted to insure that no brine will overflow when the salt supply is replenished.

As restricting the refilling of the reservoir, so as not to waste brine, involves rather enact adiustment, I prefer to over-restrict the refilling in that t may not rot in eventual exhaustion of the brine I provide a mall float-controlled valve whereby to prevent the level or the brine falling below a. point. This valve is shown at 88, in Fig. l. The valve is oper- 5 ated by the arm 8i, from which a float $2 is suspended. When the level of the brine falls too low the arm is moved down slightly by. gravity and lets in enough water from, the pipe It to prevent the supply of brlnebecominig exhausted. A small pin 83 prevents the arm being lifted too far, re-

dless oi how'high the brine may in the reservoir. This float is protected by a shield M, in the form of a tube, in which the float rism and falls without interference, and the whole device 15 takes up so little room that it does not reduce 11:- capacity of the rwervoir appreciably.

Forthe purpose of regulating ountof brine drawn froni the reservoir during the regenerating period, so that the salt solution passed 20.

though thesoitening material shall be of the d8". sired strength, I introduce a restricting device of known capacity in the brine pipe 5:3 3.- This is shown at 85, in Fig.4, but it is better seen in Fig. l. This-restriction is sar'to-an ordinary 2 pipe union, but in the center is placed a nozzlelih having an orifice El of considerably less diameter than the diameter of the pipe 36. The orifice is made just the size necessary to permit passage of the amount of brine required in the solution 30 that passes to the tank to regenerate the soitening material. This restriction is also used, in connection with a similar restriction, so, placed in the drain pipe it, to regulate the amount of waterv returned to the reservoir to replace brine drawn 35 therefrom. -The capacity oi the orifice in the nozzle or the restriction 88 is so proportioned to that ofthe orifice in the restriction as, that just the required amount or water flows into the reservoir during the time the flushing operation is taking place. But the nozzle 88 is larger than the nozzle 85 and a much larger volume of water flows through the tank than flows to the reservoir, In fact the amount of water flowing through the softening material is as large as can be effectively used and the flushing operation is therefore accomplished in the shortest possible time.

Since the operation of my invention has been fully described as the description of the apparatus has proceeded, only a brief recapitulationis needed. Beginning with the restoration of the apparatus to its normal condition, treated or soft water is delivered at the outlet it until sufflcient water has passed through the meter to rotate the shaft at one revolution. Then the mechanism A is tripped by its cam 55, causing the operation of valve is and the opening-of thevalve Regeneration of the softening material then proceeds, and as water to' carry on the regeneration passes through'themeter the shaft it rotates slowly, eventually causing the cam 55 of mechanism B to trip valve lb, thereby opening the flushing valve 53. This stops the process of regeneration and begins the flushing process, at the same time beginning to return water to the reservoir. The meter continues to rotate, propelled by the water used for flushing the soltening material, and in due time mechanism A is tripped by its cam 63 causing restoration of valve is to the position it occupies in Fig. 5, and "0 ready to soften water.

l0. softener.

I have heretofore stated that in the practice of my invention one reservoir can be made to serve a plurality of softeners. This is because control of the various steps in the cycle of the apparatus is independent of the liquid in the reservoir. In other water softeners .control of the steps, of the cycle is eifected with float mechanism actuated by the brine, and the brineis required to have two or more levels in diii'erent stages of a single cycle. For that reason it can control only one In my present apparatus water flows upward in the tank during softening and downward durhad ing regeneration and flushing. This is now recognized as the best practice, but there is nothing inherent inmy invention which limits it to that mode of operation.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, I am aware that various structural modifications are possible without departure from the spirit or exceeding the scope of my invention. What I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. In water-softening apparatus, a control valve, a meter to open said valve when a given amount of water has passed therethrou'gh, thereby initiating regeneration of the water-softeningmaterial, which regenerating operation uses wa ter that passes through the meter, a flushing valve, means comprising the meter for opening said valve after a given amount of water has traversed the meter for regenerating purposes, means whereby opening the flushing valve stops regeneration and flushes the water-softening material with fresh water that has traversed the meter, and means comprising the meter for restoring the apparatus to water-softening condition after a given amount of water has traversed the meter for flushing purposes.

2. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softemng material and a reservoir containing regenerating liquid, a control valve, 9. meter to open said valve after a given amount of water has passed therethrough, a flushing valve, means comprisingthe meter for opening said valve after a given amount'of water has traversed the meter for regenerating purposes, said flushing valveintroducing water to the tank through a more capacious passage than that through which water is supplied to the tank for regenerating purposes, means whereby opening the flushing valve stops the regenerating and flushes the tank and contents with fresh water, and means comprising the meter for restoring the apparatus to water-softening condition after a given amount of flushing water has traversed the;

' meter.

3. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine, a control valve, a meter to open said valve after a given amount of water has passed therethrough, thereby initiating the process of regenerating the softeningmaterial with brine drawn from the reservoir and water passed through the meter, a flushing valve, means comprising the meter for opening said flushing valve after a given amount of water has passed through the meter for regenerating purposes, thereby stopping the regeneration process and flushing the tank and contents with fresh water, means whereby during he flushing operation water from the flushing .valve is introduced intothe reservoir, to replace brine just withdrawn therefrom, and means comprising the meter for restoring the apparatus to water-sofs,oso,ose

tsnlpg condition after a given amount of flushing has traversed the meter. v V it. In water-softening apparatus comprising a containing water-softening. material and a r ervoir containing brine, a control valve, a meter to open said valve after a given amount oi water' has passed therethrough, thereby initiatin the process of regenerating the softening mawith brine drawn from the reservoir and water passed through the meter, a flushing valve, 10 n s comprising the meter for opening said ug valve after a given amount of water through the meter for regenerating purposes, thereby stopp the regenerating process and flushing the tank and contents with 16 fresh water, means whereby during the flushing operation water from the flushing valve is introduced into the reservoir, the volume of which is a little less the volume of the brine Just withdrawn and means comprising the 20 meter for restoring the apparatus to water-softening condition after a given amount of water has traversed the meter.

5. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a 25 reservoir containing brine, acontrol valve, a meter to ope'n said valve after a given amount of water has passed therethrough, thereby initiating the process of regenerating the softening material with brine drawn from the reservoir and water 30 passed through the meter, a flushing valve means comprising the meter for opening said flushing valve after a given amount of water'has passed through the meter for regenerating purposes,

' thereby stopping the regenerating process and 35 flushing the tank and contents with fresh water, means whereby during the flushing operation a volume of water from the flushing valve is introduced into the reservoir substantially equal to the volume of the brine just withdrawn, minus the volume of the quantity of dry salt required to convertthe newly introduced water into brine, and means comprising the meter for restoring the apparatus to water-softening condition after a given amount of water has traversed the meter.

6-. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine, mechanism comprising an injector for drawing brine from the reservoir and introducing it .into said tank diluted with water, whereby to regenerate the watersoftening material therein, a control valve means comprising a water meter for opening said valve when a given amount of water has traversed the meter, thereby initiating said regenerating process, a flushing valve, means comprising the meter for opening said flushing valve when a given amount of water has passed therethrough, means whereby opening the" flushing valve stops the regenerative action, and means comprising the so meter whereby to restore the apparatus to watersoftening condition when a given amount of water has traversed the meter.

7. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a s5 reservoir containing brine, mechanism comprising an injector for drawing brine from the reservoir and introducing it into said tank diluted with water, whereby to regenerate the water-softening material therein, a control valve, means comprising a water meter for opening said valve when a given amount of water has traversed the meter, thereby initiating said regenerating process, a flushing valve whereby to introduce water into the tank to flush its contents, said water by-passflushing valve is introduced into the reservoir in an amount slightly less in volume than the volume of the bine just withdrawn therefrom, and means comprising the meter for closing said flushing and control valves when a given amount of water has passed through the meter.

" 8. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine, mechanism comprising an injector for drawing brine from the reservoir and introducing it into said tank diluted with water, whereby to regenerate the water-softening material therein, a control'valve, means comprising a water meter for opening said valve when a given amount of water has traversed the meter, thereby initiating said regenerating process, a flushing valve whereby to introduce water into the tank to flush its contents, said water by-passing the injector and disabling it, means whereby during the flushing operation water from the flush ing valve is introduced into the reservoir in an amount slightly less in volume than the volume of the brine just withdrawn therefrom, and means comprising the meter for restoring the apparatus to water-softening condition after a given amount of water has traversed the meter.

9. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine, mechanism comprising a water meter through which water to be softened passes, means comprising said meter for initiating the process of regenerating the softening material when a given amount of .water has passed through the meter, said process using brine from the reservoir and water that passes through the meter, means comprising the meter for stopping the regenerating when a given amount of water has traversed the meter, means including a valve for flushing the tank and its contents with fresh water, and means for diverting water from said valve and causing it to flow into the reservoir during the flushing operation to an amount slightly less than the amount of brine just removed.

10. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and be softened passes, means comprising said meter for initiating the process of regenerating the softening material when a given amount of water has passed through the meter, said process using brine from the reservoir and water that passes through the meter, said mechanism being independent of the level of the brine in the reservoir, thereby permitting the reservoir to serve a plurality of tanks, means comprising the meter for stopping the regenerating when a given amount of water has traversed the meter for flushing the tank and contents with fresh water, means for causing water to flow into the reservoir during the flushing operation to an amount slightly less than the amount of brine just removed, and means for preventing too great a depletion of the brine in the reservoir by repeated short refilling.

11. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material, a reservoir containing brine, a meter through which water passes for rinsing the water-softening material after it has been regenerated with brine drawn from said reservoir, means controlled by said meter for starting said rinsing operation and then stopping it after a given' .a tank containing water-softening material, a

reservoir containing brine, a meter through which water passes for rinsing the water-softening material after it has been regenerated with brine drawn from said reserv'oir, means controlled by said meter for starting said rinsing operation and then stopping it after a given amount of water has passed through the meter, and means controlled bysaid meter for putting water into the reservoir during said rinsing operation to an amount substantially equal tothe bulk of dry salt contained in the brine withdrawn therefrom.

13. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material, a reservoir containing brine, a meter through which water passes for rinsing the water-soften- 14.1n water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brinewherewith to regenerate the water-softening material from time to time, a pipe to supply water for flushing the tank aftera period of regeneration, a meter through which said water flows, a valve in said pipe, means comprising said meter for opening the valve to start flushing the tank and for closing the valve to terminate the flushing operation,

means for causing brine to flow from the reservoir to the-tank, and means for creating pressure in said tank whereby to stop the flow of brine to the tank.

15. In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening terial and a reservoir containing brine wherewith to regenerate the water-softening material from time to time, a pipe to supply water for flushing the tank after a period of regeneration, a meter through which said water flows, a'valve in said pipe, means comprising said meter for opening the valve to start flushing the tank and for closing the valve to terminate the flushing operation, means for causing brine to flow from the reservoir to the tank, and means for creating pressure in said tank, whereby to stop the flow of brine to the tank and cause a flow of water to the reservoir to replace the brine that has been drawn therefrom.

16.- In water-softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine wherewith to regenerate the water-softening material, a plurality of valves whereby to change the apparatus from softening to regenerating, condition, a control valve which, when opened, operates said plurality of valves as aforesaid, a meter whereby said control valve is opened after a given amount of water has passed through the softening tank, a flushing valve, a second control valve which,

when opened, opens said flushing valve, means comprising the meter for opening said second control valve after a given amount of water has traversed the meter since opening the first control valve, and means comprising the meter for closing both control valves and restoring the apparatus to water-softening condition after a given amount of flushing water has traversed the meter.

1'7. In water-softening apparatus comprising atank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine wherewith to regenerate the water-softening material, a plurality of valves whereby to change the apparatus from softening to regenerating condition, and start a flow of brine through the softening material, a control valve the opening of which operates said plurality of valves as aforesaid, a meter whereby said control valve is opened after a given amount of water has passed through the softening tank to be softened, a flushing valve, a second control valve, the opening of which opens said flushing valve, means comprising the meter for opening said second control valve after a given amount of brine has passed to the softening tank, means whereby the flow of brine to the softening tank is stopped concurrently with the opening of the flushing valve, and means com prising the meter for closing both control valves and restoring the apparatus to water-softening condition after a given amount of flushing water has passed through the softening tank.

18. In water-softening apparatus a control valve, a meter to open said valve when a given amount of water has passed therethrough, thereby initiating regeneration of the water-softening material, which regeneration operation uses water that passes through the meter, a flushing valve, means comprising said meter for opening said flushing valve after a given amount of water has traversed the meter for regenerating purposes, means whereby opening the flushing valve starts rinsing the material with fresh water and by building up a pressure in the tank stops the regenerating process, and means comprising said meter for restoring the apparatus to its original conditionafter a given amount of water has traversed said meter for flushing purposes.

19. In a water softening apparatus comprising a tank containing water softening material, a res ervoir containing brine and a meter through which water to be softened passes, an injector and means whereby to draw brine from said reservoir therewith and inject it into said tank after a given amount of water has passed through the meter, and means for introducing a flow of water through the tank after the injector has operated a given amount, which flow creates a pressure in the tank whereby to stop the flow of brine to the tank.

20. In water softening apparatus, a tank containing "water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine, a control valve, a meter for operating said control valve, a hydraulically operated valve, controlled by said control valve, through which brine is conducted from said reservoir to said tank, a second control valve operated by said meter, a second hydraulically operated valve, controlled by said second control valve,

.reservoir, a valve through which brine is con- 21. In a water-softening apparatus, a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine, a control valve, a meter for operating said control valve, a hydraulically operated valve, controlled by said control valve, .5

through which brine is conducted from said reservoir to said tank. an injector for supplying brine to the tank, a second control valve operated by said meter, a second hydraulic operated flushing valve, controlled by said second control 10 valve, through which flushing water is admitted to the tank to flush the water softening material therein after the required amount of brine has been admitted thereto, said flushing valve admitting sufllcient water to the tank to create a pres- 15 sure to prevent the flow of brine into the tank. -22. In a water-softening apparatus, a tank containing water-softening material and a reservoir containing brine, a control valve, a meter for operating said 'controlvalve, a power operated 20 valve, controlled bysaid control valve through which brine is conducted from the reservoir to. the tank, a second control valve operated by said meter, a second power operated valve, controlled by said control valve, through which flushing 25 water is admitted to the tank after the required amount of brine has been admitted thereto, said control valves being vindependently movable, means for stopping the flow of brine to the tank when the flow of flushing water begins, and

'means for stopping the flow of flushing water thereto later.

23. In a water softening apparatus, a tank containing water softening material, an open brine ducted from the brine reservoir to the softening tank, a second vave for controlling the admission of flushing water to the softening tank and for controlling the admission of water to the open brine reservoir to refill the same, two pilot valves for controllingthe operation of said brine and flushing water valves, and a meter for operating. said pilot valves.

24. In a, water softening apparatus, a tank containing water softening material, a brine reservoir, a connection between said tank and reser-- voir for the passage of brine and 'liquid,a meter, means controlled by said meter for governing the regeneration, flushing and softening operations, means controlled by said meter for replacing the brine removed from said brine reservoir with liquid, and means to limit such replacement liquid to an amount less than the volume of brine removed from said reservoir.

25. In a water softening apparatus, a tank containing water softening material, a reservoir containing brine connected to said softening tank, a brine valve to admit brine from said brine reservoir to said softening tank to regenerate the softening material, a control valve to control the brine reservoir, 8. control valve to control the opening and closing of said flushing water valve, means to open said control valve for the brine valve after a predetermined quantity of water has been softened and to open said control valve for the flushing water valve after the water softening material has been regenerated, and means to close said control valves and the brine and flushing water valves at the completion of the flushing operation.

CHARLES P. EISENHAUER. 

